The US Supreme Court says that Title 42 restrictions must stay in place at the southern border. But that's not the end of the legal fight over this Trump-era border policy. Plus, private security guards actually outnumber the police in Brazil. We'll hear about a training school for security guards. And Soviet cosmonauts during the Cold War communicated with mission control back in the USSR. For more casual conversation, they'd connect with a ham radio operator in Australia.

Over the last 24 hours, both Russian and Ukrainian officials have expressed interest in peace talks. But only on their own terms. Meanwhile, the fighting on the ground in Ukraine continues. Also, in Afghanistan, the Taliban is continuing to strip back more rights for women. Now, they can no longer work with nongovernmental organizations there. And what did Tyrannosaurus rex actually sound like? Hint: It's not like in the movies.

In this holiday special, The World brings you Sacred Nation stories that focus on how religion impacted people’s lives this year around the globe. An Iraqi Muslim has been helping to preserve Mosul’s Jewish history. Afro Brazilians fear attacks as evangelism grows in Brazil. An ally of Viktor Orban discusses the shifting ideologies of his political career. And a cult in Japan tries to recruit believers in the United States.

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Many people faced a variety of hardships around the world in 2022. But there was also much hope, with people coming together to help others out in their time of need. Today’s show shines a light on those who went out of their way this year to offer a helping hand. World renowned Spanish chef José Ramón Andrés made a trip to the frontlines of Ukraine’s war. A Syrian refugee tried to draw attention to his country’s plight through playing the piano in Germany. A neighbor helped a woman give birth at a temporary shelter in Pakistan. And a pub in Turkey is providing customers with a space where they can share their emotions.

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Waves of new COVID-19 infections are threatening to overwhelm China’s health care system after the government lifted its stringent quarantine restrictions. And, male faculty members in Afghanistan are standing in solidarity with women after the Taliban-led government decreed that they will be banned from attending universities. Also, Caribbean nations react to the Dutch prime minister’s apology for his country’s history with slavery.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in Washington, DC, on a surprise visit and plans to address a joint session of Congress. Also, a library and center dedicated to the visual arts of Africa has opened in Accra, Ghana. And, the US Drug Enforcement Administration says it seized enough fentanyl to create 379 million lethal doses in 2022, twice last year’s amount. Plus, a massive spike in COVID-19 cases may not be appearing in government statistics, but they are showing up in videos and images across the internet.

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On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Belarusian capital of Minsk to meet with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. In Ukraine, there's been speculation that Russia is trying to further integrate Belarus into its military command, and increase Belarus' role in the war. And, US President Joe Biden is expected to sign an $843 billion defense budget that includes an alignment with Myanmar’s National Unity Government. This move could put the US at odds with Myanmar’s current military regime and with Russia and China. Also, before the World Cup, Qatar only had one stadium — now it has eight. What happens to these stadiums now that the games are over? Plus, an early Cézanne portrait has been discovered in Cincinnati.

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The once-elegant city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has become the main battlefield in the with Russia. We hear why much is riding on the fight to control Bakhmut. And COVID-19 infections in China are spiking — jumping from very few cases to tens of thousands per day — and China’s government says that's OK. After years of “all-out war” on the virus, officials suddenly insist it’s actually not much worse than the flu. Also, the UN Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, concluded with a deal to mitigate wildlife extinctions, in part, by setting aside more land and sea for preservation than ever before. Plus, to kick off the Hanukkah season, we hear diverse stories from the Old City, Jerusalem.

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The Dutch government is set to apologize for its role in 250 years of slavery, with a court in the Netherlands clearing the way to hold an official ceremony to mark the decision next week. And, following the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of the US’ largest Somali diaspora community. Also, negotiators are in Montreal, Canada, to try and halt the steep decline in biodiversity, but many activists worry that it could lead to Indigenous people being kicked off their ancestral lands. Plus, Cuba has authorized women to compete in boxing for the first time since former President Fidel Castro's revolution.

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The United States is poised to approve sending its most advanced ground-based air defense system to Ukraine, responding to the country’s repeated requests to help defend it against Russian missile and drone attacks. And, the United Kingdom is currently facing a number of labor strikes across different sectors. We hear how this is affecting the British economy, especially around the holidays. Also, NASA's new Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite will map the Earth's water in minute detail, providing valuable and incontrovertible information to communities who are trying to manage climate change. Plus, a new type of owl has been found on the island of Príncipe — and now it’s endangered.

We are able to bring you the human-centered journalism that you’ve come to expect, because listeners like you financially support our independent newsroom. Will you make a donation today to keep The World going strong? Give now.